Clothes dryers



y 5, 1955 J. P. JoRGENsoN 2,712,133

CLOTHES DRYERS Filed Nov. 15, 1952 JOHN P. JORGENSON INVENTOR.

BY M (Z ATTORNEYS United States Patent CLOTHES DRYERS John P. Jorgenson, Wilmette, Ill. Application November 15, 1952, Serial No. 320,700

9 Claims. (Cl. 34-131) This invention relates to improvements in clothes dryers, and more particularly to machines which wash as well as dry clothes.

Many attempts have been made to develop a commercially practical household machine which will dry as well as wash clothing. Machines heretofore developed have been complicated and expensive, and have had low drying efficiency as compared with machines which perform the drying operation only.

It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide an improved combination washer and dryer which utilizes only a relatively small number of parts in addition to those included in a conventional washing machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved combination washer and dryer which is etficicnt in operation, and which is so constructed that it need not be of insulated construction.

A specific object of the invention is to provide a combination washer and dryer of the class described which includes a rotatable, perforated basket of the type which is mounted for rotation on an inclined axis, there being means for circulating heated drying air through said basket from the rear toward the front thereof, the improved machine being so constructed that the air circulating means is independent of and in no way effected by operation of the machine for washing.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved combination washer and dryer of the class described which is provided with means for selectively recirculating part or all of the drying air through the perforated basket after said air has once passed through said basket.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved washer and dryer of the class described wherein the drying air is directed into the perforated basket in a manner to loosen wet garments which might be adhering to upper wall portions of said basket, said garments being carried forwardly thereby and falling by gravity through the circulating drying air to free said garments from each other and permit efiicient drying action.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the improved combination washer and dryer, and all of its parts and combinations, as set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

In the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this specification, wherein one complete embodiment of the preferred form of the invention is shown:

The figure is a perspective side view of the improved combination washer and dryer, parts being broken away and shown in section to illustrate internal structural features.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral indicates a generally rectangular cabinet having an inclined front wall portion 6 with an opening 7 which is normally closed by a door 8, the latter being hinged to the cabinet 5 at its lower edge. Mounted within the cabinet 5 for rotation on an axis at an angle of less than degrees from the vertical is a perforated, generally cylindrical basket 9 having a front end opening 10 adjacent and coaxial with the cabinet opening 7. The axis of rotation of basket 9 may be at an inclination of approximately 45 from the vertical; The basket 9 has a perforated rear end wall (not shown) opposite the opening 10, and said basket has a frusto-conical side wall portion 11 adjacent said end wall.

A watertight, generally cylindrical casing 12 surrounds the basket 9 and conforms to the shape thereof, having a suitable mouth opening in registration with the opening 7 of cabinet 5. The casing 12 fits the contour of the basket 9 except at a point above the wall portion 11 where said casing is bulged out as at 14, said bulged portion extending circumferentially of the basket portion 11 for a substantial distance. The portion 14 is formed with a drying air inlet opening 15 to which is connected an air inlet hose or conduit 16.

The door 8 is preferably formed with a concave-convex portion 17 which normally registers with the cabinet opening 7, there being a perforated circulatr plate 18 mounted on the inner surface of door 8 and spaced therefrom. The portion 17 has connected thereto an outlet conduit 19 which may be generally U-shaped. Mounted at the top of cabinet 5 is a receptacle 20 in which the free end of conduit 19 is sealingly received when the door 8 is closed, said conduit end being removable from said receptacle when door 8 is opened. The receptacle 20 is connected to a suitable exhaust conduit 21 which may project from the cabinet 5, as shown, and which may be connected to a three way valve 22. The top of cabinet 5 is preferably louvered, as at 23.

Mounted in cabinet 5 below the casing 12 is an electric air heating unit 24 having an air inlet conduit 25. An electrically powered blower 26 has its inlet connected to the outlet of heating unit 24, the blower outlet being connected to the hose or conduit 16, as shown. In the illustrated embodiment the inlet conduit 25 forms one branch of a three-way valve 27, another branch of said valve opening within the cabinet 5, as at 26. The third branch 28 of valve 27 is connected with a conduit 29 which, in turn, is connected to a branch of valve 22. The third branch 30 of valve 22 is vented to the atmosphere exterioriy of cabinet 5. For simplicity of description, valve 22 and conduits 21 and 29 have been shown outside cabinet 5, but obviously they may be within the cabinet, with only the branch 30 of valve 22 projecting exteriorly. It is important, however, that the branch of valve 22 which is connected to conduit 21 be aligned with the branch 30, for a reason which will be hereinafter pointed out.

The improved machine may be provided with suitable means (not shown) for introducing wash and rinse water to the casing 12 and for draining the casing of said water. Suitable drive means (not shown) is also provided for slowly rotating as well as for spinning the basket 9, along with the necessary automatic control mechanism therefor.

In operation of the improved machine, the washing cycle is carried out in the conventional manner for automatic washers, the damp dry clothes adhering to the side walls of the basket 9 after the final spinning (extracting) operation. Substantially all water extracted from the clothes is removed from the casing 12 during the spinning operation.

With the parts of the machine positioned as shown in the drawing, the heating unit 24 and blower 26 are then turned on. This causes air at room temperature to be drawn into the cabinet 5 through the louvers 23 to flow downwardly around casing 12 and enter air inlet 26. This air thenfiows through the heating unit 24 and blower 26, the heated air being discharged into casing 12 through conduit 16 and opening 15 in casing portion 14.

The air flowing through the inlet opening 15 flows through the perforations of basket wall portion 11 as the latter moves past the casing portion 14. The heated air blowing into the basket blows garments which are adhering to wall portion 11 forwardly toward the front of said basket, said garments dropping by gravity to the bottom of the basket as they move forwardly. This action separates the garments from one another and efiiciently dries the garments. Each time the garments are carried around by the revolving basket they are again blown forwardly in the manner described whenever they reach a position in front of the casing portion 14.

The air leaves the casing 12 through conduit 19, the perforated plate 18 preventing any of the garments from being drawn into said conduit. From conduit 19 the air flows through receptacle 2%, conduit 21, and valve 22. A portion of the exhaust air is returned to the heating unit 24 through conduit 29 when the valves 2?. and 27 are in the positions shown, thus conserving some of the heat. The remainder of the exhaust air flows straight through valve 22 and is discharged into the atmosphere through branch 30, carrying with it substantially all lint entrained in the air exhausted from basket 9. By turning the valve 22 180, all of the exhaust air may be discharged into the atmosphere, Whereas if the valve 22 is rotated 90 in a counterclockwise direction and valve 27 is rotated 90 in a counterclockwise direction all of the air leaving casing 12 is recirculated. While three-way valves have been shown, it is obvious that any suitable type of valve may be used.

Since the air entering the cabinet fiows downwardly around the casing 12 en route to the air inlet 26, said air is preheated by the heat of the casing. This not only conserves heat, but it also makes insulation of cabinet 5 unnecessary.

After the drying operation has been completed, blower 26 and heating unit 24 may be shut off, and the door 8 opened, disengaging the conduit 19 from receptacle 20, as shown in dot and dash lines. The dried garments may then be removed from basket 9 through the cabinet opening 7 and basket opening 10.

Various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and all of such changes are contemplated as may come within the scope of the claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a clothes dryer: a stationary casing, a perforated circular basket rotatably mounted in said casing on an axis which is at an angle of less than 90 degrees from the vertical, said basket having an open front end which faces angularly upwardly, having a rear end wall, and having a frusto-conical side wall portion connected to said rear end well; said casing having a relatively large front opening alined with the open end of said basket, said casing also having an air inlet opening above and adjacent that portion of said frusto-conical wall portion of the basket which is near the rear end wall of the basket; a door normally closing said relatively large casing opening, said door having an exhaust opening therein; and means for introducing drying air into said casing through said air inlet opening, whereby said drying air flows forwardly and at an angle downwardly through said basket toward and through said exhaust opening.

2. In a clothes dryer: a stationary casing, a perforated circular basket rotatably mounted in said casing on an axis which is at an an le of less than 90 degrees from the vertical, said basket having an open front end which faces angularly upwardly, having a rear end Wall, and having a frusto-conical side wall portion connected to said rear end wall, said casing closely fitting said basket and conforming to the shape thereof and having a relatively large front opening alined with the open end of said basket, said casing also having an air inlet opening above and adjacent that portion of said frusto-conical wall portion of the basket which is near the rear end wall of the basket; a door normally closing said relatively large casing opening, said door having an exhaust opening therein; and means for introducing drying air into said casing through said air inlet opening, whereby said drying air flows forwardly through said basket toward and through said exhaust opening dislodging garments which are adhering to said frusto-conical side wall portion when said portion reaches the upper part of its cycle of movement to force said garments toward the front lower portion of the basket.

3. in a clothes dryer, a cabinet, an inner casing fixedly mounted in said cabinet, a garment receiving basket rotatably mounted in said inner casing, an air heating unit having an air inlet opening located in said cabinet at one side of said casing, a valve having multiple inlet ports controlling the admission of air into said inlet of the heating unit, said cabinet having an inlet opening for air from the exterior and there being an air passage around said inner casing connected with the air inlet opening of said cabinet, means for directing heated air from said heating unit into said inner casing to heat the latter whereby air entering said cabinet through its air inlet opening is preheated by said inner casing, means for exhausting air from said inner casing, means for con ducting said exhausted air to one of the ports of the valve which is connected to the air inlet of the heating unit,

another port of said valve being in communication with the passage for preheated air.

4. In a clothes dryer, a cabinet, an inner casing fixedly mounted in said cabinet, a garment receiving basket rotatably mounted in said inner casing, an air heating unit having an air inlet opening located in said cabinet at one side of said casing, a valve having multiple inlet ports controlling the admission or" air into said inlet of the heating unit, said cabinet having an inlet opening for air from the exterior and there being an air passage around said inner casing connected with the air inlet opening of said cabinet, means for directing heated air from said heating unit into said inner casing to heat the latter whereby air entering said cabinet through its air inlet opening is preheated by said inner casing, means for exhausting air from said inner casing, means for conducting said exhausted air to one of the ports of the valve which is connected to the air inlet of the heating unit, another port of said valve being in communication with the passage for preheated air, said valve being of a type which is movable to control the proportion of air from said ports admitted to the heating unit or to cut off one of said ports.

5. In a clothes dryer, a cabinet, an inner casing fixedly mounted in said cabinet, a garment receiving basket rotatably mounted in said inner casing, an air heating unit having an air inlet opening located in said cabinet at one side of said casing, a valve having multiple inlet ports controlling the admission of air into said inlet of the heating unit, said cabinet having an inlet opening for air from the exterior and there being an air passage around said inner casing connected with the air inlet opening of said cabinet, means for directing heated air from said heating unit into said inner casing to heat the latter whereby air entering said cabinet through its air inlet opening is preheated by said inner casing, conduit means for exhausting air from said inner casing, and a valve in said conduit means for directing a portion of said exhausted air into one of the ports of the valve which controls the air inlet of the heating unit.

6. In a clothes dryer, a cabinet, an inner casing fixedly mounted in said cabinet, a garment receiving basket rotatably mounted in said inner casing, an air heating unit having an air inlet opening located in said cabinet at one side of said casing, 21 valve controlling the admis.

sion of air into said inlet of the heating unit, said cabinet having an inlet opening for air from the exterior and there being an air passage around said inner casing connected with the air inlet opening of said cabinet, means for directing heated air from said heating unit into said inner casing to heat the latter whereby air entering said cabinet through its air inlet opening is preheated by said inner casing, conduit means for exhausting air from said inner casing, and a valve in said conduit means for directing a portion of said exhausted air into one of the ports of the valve which controls the air, inlet of the heating unit, another port of said valve being in communication with the passage for preheated air.

7. In a clothes dryer: a stationary casing; a perforated circular basket rotatably mounted in said casing on an axis which is at an angle of less than 90 from the vertical; said basket having an open front end which faces angularly upwardly, having a rear end wall, and having a frusto-conical side wall portion connected to said rear end wall; said casing closely fitting said basket and conforming to the shape thereof, and having a front opening alined with the open end of said basket, said casing also having a relatively large outwardly belled portion above and adjacent that portion of said frusto-conical wall portion of the basket which is near the rear end wall of the basket, there being an air inlet opening leading into said belled portion; a door normally closing said casing opening and having an exhaust opening therein; and means for introducing drying air through said air inlet opening to fill said belled portion and dislodge garments adhering to the casing portion which is in front of said belled portion, said air moving forwardly and at an angle downwardly through said basket to said exhaust opening.

8. In a clothes dryer, a cabinet, an inner casing fixedly mounted in said cabinet, a garment receiving basket rotatably mounted in said inner casing, air circulating means having an inlet opening located in said cabinet, a valve having multiple inlet ports controlling the admission of air into said inlet of the air circulating means, said cabinet having an inlet opening for air from the exterior and there being an air passage around said inner casing connected with the air inlet opening of said cabinet, means for directing air from said air circulating means into said inner casing, means for exhausting air from said inner casing, means for conducting said exhausted air to one of the ports of the valve which is connected to the air inlet of the air circulating means, another port of said valve being in communication with the interior of the cabinet, and means for heating said circulating air.

9. In a clothes dryer, a cabinet, an inner casing fixedly mounted in said cabinet, a garment receiving basket rotatably mounted in said inner casing, air circulating means having an inlet opening located in said cabinet, a valve having multiple inlet ports controlling the admission of air into said inlet of the air circulating means, said cabinet having an inlet opening for air from the exterior and there being an air passage around said inner casing connected with the air inlet opening of said cabinet, means for directing air from said air circulating means into said inner casing, means for exhausting air from said inner casing, means including a control valve for conducting a selected amount of said exhausted air to one of the ports of the valve which is connected to the air inlet of the air circulating means, another port of said valve being in communication with the interior of the cabinet, and means for heating said circulating air.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

